A new study being presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25) reveals a potential link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and an increased risk of heart disease, including coronary artery disease. According to the research, patients who test positive for HPV have a notably higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular issues, such as plaque buildup in the arteries, which reduces blood flow to the heart.
“Our study shows that clearly there is an association of some kind between HPV and cardiovascular disease,” said Stephen Akinfenwa, MD, lead author and an internal medicine resident at UConn School of Medicine. “The biological mechanism has not been determined but is hypothesized to be related to chronic inflammation. We would ultimately like to see if reducing HPV via vaccination could reduce cardiovascular risk.”
The study analyzed data from nearly 250,000 patients across seven global studies conducted between 2011 and 2024, marking the first large-scale effort to assess the relationship between HPV and cardiovascular outcomes. The findings support emerging evidence suggesting that HPV is linked to heart disease and indicate a need for greater focus on this connection in both research and clinical care.
HPV, a viral infection commonly transmitted through intimate contact, has been widely recognized for its role in causing cancers, including those of the genital area, anus, and throat. In addition to these known risks, the study’s results suggest that HPV may also pose a threat to heart health, making it an important factor for clinicians to consider in their cardiovascular assessments.
This study marks an important step forward, as evidence of a link between HPV and heart disease has only recently begun to emerge. While HPV has long been associated with certain cancers, its influence on cardiovascular health has not been well understood. Researchers sought to clarify this potential connection by pooling data from multiple studies that included information on both HPV status and cardiovascular outcomes. These studies, conducted in the United States, South Korea, Brazil, and Australia, followed patients for periods ranging from three to 17 years.
The researchers employed various statistical methods to examine the relationship between HPV and cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and high blood pressure. After adjusting for traditional risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, and family history of heart disease, the findings showed that patients with HPV had a 40% higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease compared to HPV-negative individuals. Moreover, HPV-positive patients were found to be twice as likely to develop coronary artery disease. The study also revealed that this association held even after considering other confounding factors, though no significant link was found between HPV and high blood pressure.
Given these findings, Akinfenwa suggested that clinicians may need to consider closer monitoring of patients who test positive for HPV. “We always talk about cardiovascular risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, and so on, but we know that about 20% of cardiovascular disease cannot be explained by these conventional risk factors,” he said. “This makes it important to identify non-conventional risk factors like HPV that could potentially be targeted.”
HPV has been implicated in various diseases and conditions beyond cardiovascular problems. It is a leading cause of cervical, anal, and throat cancers, with vaccination being a key preventive measure. However, many adults in the United States were not eligible for the vaccine when it first became available in 2006, limiting its reach. The study’s findings prompt a reevaluation of the role of HPV vaccination, especially as the virus may contribute to cardiovascular risks as well.
As for next steps, Akinfenwa emphasized the need for further research to clarify the underlying mechanisms linking HPV and heart disease. This could ultimately lead to new preventative measures, such as HPV vaccination, to reduce cardiovascular risk. While the study does not prove causality, its findings highlight the importance of continuing to explore nontraditional risk factors for heart disease.
The study contributes to a growing body of evidence suggesting that HPV may be more than just a cancer risk factor—it may also play a significant role in heart health, a realization that could have profound implications for clinical care in the future.
